COMPARISON OF PUMPS

Date: 3rd February, 2024

Akandi Williams Ananzoyaa Akinie Simon Yaw Aidoo Samuel
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Sci. and Tech.

REPORT INFO
ABSTRACT
Keywords:
This lab report presents a comparison of the
Centrifugal pump performance characteristics of different pumps
commonly used in fluid transport applications. The
Head objective of this study was to evaluate and analyze the
Efficiency efficiency, flow rate, and power consumption of two
types of pumps: centrifugal pumps and side channel
Operating point pumps.
Best Efficiency Point In the experiment, the pumps investigated pumped
(BEP) water in a closed circuit and their performance data
System Characteristic was recorded and used to plot both a pump and system
Curve characteristic curve for both to determine the operating
point and efficiencies.
Pump Characteristic
Curve

INTRODUCTION
A pump is a device that provides the driving force that enables fluids to flow from one
point to another. It does so by adding energy to the system. The most common methods of
adding energy are positive displacement and centrifugal action. Pumps operate through
many energy sources, including manual operation, electricity, engines, or wind power.
The usefulness of pumps makes them important components in various industries. In
water supply and wastewater treatment, centrifugal pumps are often employed for their
efficiency in handling large volumes. Reciprocating pumps find their place in high-
pressure systems, such as hydraulic and oilfield applications, where precise control is
essential. Additionally, positive displacement pumps, a subgroup that includes

1
 reciprocating pumps, are crucial for metering and dosing in chemical processing and
pharmaceutical manufacturing (Williams, 2010)
Positive displacement pumps operate by trapping a fixed volume of liquid and forcing that
trapped volume into the discharge pipe. Some positive displacement pumps use an expanding
cavity on the suction side and a decreasing cavity on the discharge side. Liquid flows into the
pumps as the cavity of the suction expands and the liquid flows out of the discharge as the
cavity collapses. The volume is constant through each cycle of operation (Nelik, L.,2016).
Centrifugal pumps are the most common type of pumps used in industries. All centrifugal
pumps have a shaft-driven impeller that rotates inside a casing. These pumps rely on the
kinetic energy of the rotating impeller to move fluids. The impeller imparts velocity to the
fluid, and the centrifugal force generated within the pump casing converts this velocity into
pressure, forcing the fluid to move outward through the system (Abo Elyamin et al., 2019).
Centrifugal pumps are unique because they can provide high or very low flow rates and
because their flow rates vary considerably with changes in the total dynamic head of the
particular piping system (Gülich, J. F.,2016). This allows the flow rate from the centrifugal
pumps to be throttled considerably with a simple valve placed into the discharge piping
without causing excessive pressure buildup in the piping. Therefore, centrifugal pumps can
cover a very wide range of liquid pumping applications.

Figure 1. An image of a Centrifugal pump

Efficiency is a key consideration in pump selection, impacting operational cost, and overall
system performance. Factors such as head, flow rate, and power consumption are crucial
metrics in evaluating pump effectiveness. (Nesbitt, B., et al, 2016). The Head of a pump is
the useful mechanical work transferred by the pump to the pumped liquid relative to the
weight of the pumped liquid under local gravity conditions. The head describes the pump in
the place of the pressure. This is because the pressure changes when the density of the fluid
changes but the head always remains the same. The head of a pump is calculated using this
equation;
2 2
Pdc Psc
H  H dc  H sc  z  pg  pg  v2dcg  v2dcg , m

Where ‘dc’ is the discharge and ‘sc’ is the suction

2
Pump efficiency is defined as the ratio of the power supplied to drive the fluid by the pump to
the power supplied to drive the pump. Its value is not fixed for a given pump, efficiency is a
function of the discharge and therefore also the operating head. Pump efficiencies are
affected by pump design, speed of rotation, fluid properties, clearances and wear, and
operating point. An efficient pump is most desired because it can lead to substantial cost
savings by reducing electricity consumption.
The Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) is a critical parameter in pump performance and
reliability. NPSH is a measure of the amount of suction head available at the pump’s inlet
compared to the amount required by the pump to avoid cavitation. Cavitation is a
phenomenon that occurs when the pressure of a liquid drops below its vapor pressure, leading
to the formation of bubbles. These bubbles can collapse violently when exposed to higher
pressures causing damage to pump components and leading to a decrease in pump efficiency
(Mohammadi et al., 2022). The NPSH is calculated to ensure the pump receives an adequate
and positive suction head to prevent cavitation. Pump manufacturers specify the NPSH
requirements for their pumps, known as NPSH required. This value is important for pump
selection and system design. If the available NPSH od less than the required NPSH,
cavitation may occur leading to performance issues and potential damage to the pump.
The operating point of a pump is the intersection of the pump curve and the system curve on
a graph representing pump performance. This point defines the flow rate and head conditions
at which the pump operates with a given system. The pump curve illustrates the relationship
between the pump’s head and flow rate, while the system curve represents the pressure
requirement of the system at various flow rates. Pumps are typically the most efficient and
reliable when operating close to their Best Efficient Point (BEP). The BEP is the point on the
pump curve where the efficiency is highest. Operating significantly away from the BEP can
lead to reduced efficiency, increased wear, and potential cavitation issues.

3
Methodology
 Pump characteristic curve
The parameters for the pump characteristic curve were initially determined. Gate values V1
and V8 were opened and the speed of the pump was set to 300rpm and the pressure, torque,
flow rate, power, and speed were recorded. The speed was varied at intervals of 300rpm from
300rpm to 2900rpm.
 System characteristic curve
The gate values were closed slightly. The speed was maintained at a constant value and the
flow rate varied. The parameters inlet pressure, torque, and power rating were recorded from
320,250,210,170,130,90,70,50,10.
1.1 Chemicals and Apparatus
 Centrifugal pumps
 Gate valves
 Water (chemical compound)
 Control system fully programmed for reading
 Pressure sensors

Results and Discussion

Pump 1

Volumetric flowrate
Patm 320 250 210 170 130 90 70 50
bar
P_in
(rel.) -0.38 -0.25 -0.19 -0.14 -0.12 0.1 -0.09 -0.08
bar
P_out
(rel.) 0.32 0.79 1.01 1.19 1.36 1.44 1.47 1.49
n rpm 2900 2900 2900 2900 2900 2900 2900 2900
M Nm 3.1 3 2.9 2.7 2.5 2.3 2.1 1.9
Pele W 1022 901 899 818 733 677 629
941.809 911.428 881.047 820.285 759.523 698.761 577.238
Pmech W 5 6 6 7 8 9 638 1
Table 1. A table of recorded data for the pump characteristic curve for pump 1

4
 System Characteristic Curve
Volumetric flowrate
Patm 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 2700 2900
P_in bar (rel.) -0.06 -0.08 -0.1 -0.12 -0.14 -0.18 -0.23 -0.29 -0.36 -0.41
P_out bar (rel.) 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.1 0.13 0.18 0.21
V L/min 0 55 98 138 172 211 241 276 311 334
M Nm 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.8 1 1.4 1.8 2.2 2.7 3.1
Pele W 24 41 62 109 185 281 420 545 835 1007
Table 2. A table of recorded data for the system characteristic curve for pump 1
Data for Centrifugal Pump
The diameter of the intake side d1= 50mm
The diameter on the delivery side = 32mm
The height difference between pressure sensors for the centrifugal pump = 0.21m
9.81 m
Acceleration due to gravity, g= 2
s
998 Kg
The density of water = 3
m
2 2
(P D−P S ) V D −V D
H=( Z D−Z s ) + +
ρg 2g
Pmech = 2πMη
Phyd = VHƿg
Volumetric flowrate
Vin¿
Area

Phyd
η= × 100%
Pmech

Calculations for pump Characteristic

2
d
Area∈¿ π ×
4

( 0.005 )2
Area∈¿ π × =¿1.9635×10-3 m
4

5
 ( 0.0032 )2 10−4 m
Areaout=π × =8.0425 ×
4 s

( )
3
m 320× 1 min× 1 m
Flow rate =
s 60 s × min× 1000 L

2
0.05
Area intake side of pump = ¿ π × = 1.9635×10-3 m
4
3
320 ×1 min ×1 m −3
Inlet velocity = =5.333∗10
60 s × min ×1000 L
−3
5.333 ×10
Vin¿ 3 = 2.7211 m/s
1.9635× 10
−3
5.333∗10
Outlet Velocities = −4 = 6.6335 m/s
8.0425∗10
(2)
( 0.29−−0.41 ) 2
6.631 −2.716❑
H = 0.12 + *105 + = 9.23 m
998∗9.81 2∗9.81

Pmech = 2 π *Mn
= 2 π ×3.0 ×48.3333
=911.061W
Phyd = V × H × ƿ × g
=5.333 * 10-3 × 9.135×998 × 9.81
=476.9575 W
P hyd 476.9575
η = P mech = 911.061 = 51.16%

Calculations for System Characteristic Curve for pump 1(System)

2
d
Area∈¿ π ×
4

( 0.005 )2
Area∈¿ π × =¿1.9635×10-3 m
4

( 0.0032 )2 10−4 m
Areaout=π × =8.0425 ×
4 s

6
 ( )
3
m 320× 1 min× 1 m
Flow rate =
s 60 s × min× 1000 L

2
0.05
Area intake side of pump = ¿ π × = 1.9635×10-3 m
4
0
Flow Rate = =0
60 s × min ×1000 L
0
Vin¿ 3 = 0m/s
1.9635× 10
0
Outlet Velocities = 8.0425 ×10−4 = 0 m/s

( 0.01−−0.06 ) 2
0 −2❑
2
H = 0.12 + ×105 + = 0.92 m
998× 9.81 2× 9.81

Pmech = 2 π *Mn
= 2 π ×0.4 × 5
=12.57W
Phyd = V × H × ƿ × g
=0× 0.92×998 × 9.81
=0
P hyd 0
η = P mech 12.57 = 0
=

n) 3/s) Vin (m/s) Vout (m/s) Ps(Pa) Pd(Pa) H(m)

flowrate(L/miflow(m M(Nm) N(rpm)/60 Phyd Pmech Efficiency
320 0.005333333 2.721088435 6.633499171 -38000 32000 9.225267589 3.1 48.33333333 481.7006683 941.5526667 51.16024683
250 0.004166667 2.12585034 5.182421227 -25000 79000 11.97121732 3 48.33333333 488.3448608 911.18 53.5947739
210 0.0035 1.785714286 4.353233831 -19000 101000 13.27028701 2.9 48.33333333 454.724034 880.8073333 51.6258229
170 0.002833333 1.445578231 3.524046434 -14000 119000 14.32122696 2.7 48.33333333 397.2623864 820.062 48.44296972
130 0.002166667 1.105442177 2.694859038 -12000 136000 15.63474257 2.5 48.33333333 331.6518204 759.3166667 43.67766901
90 0.0015 0.765306122 1.865671642 -10000 144000 16.08728194 2.3 48.33333333 236.2509051 698.5713333 33.81915257
70 0.001166667 0.595238095 1.451077944 -9000 147000 16.23327061 2.1 48.33333333 185.4182025 637.826 29.07034247
50 0.000833333 0.425170068 1.036484245 -8000 149000 16.29169157 1.9 48.33333333 132.9182094 577.0806667 23.03286474
10 0.000166667 0.085034014 0.207296849 -6000 151000 16.24797144 1.5 48.33333333 26.51230244 455.59 5.819333709

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Table 3. A table of the calculated values of the pump characteristic curve for pump 1

PUMP 1 SYSTEM
flowrate(L/min) flow(m3/s) Vin (m/s) Vout (m/s) Ps(Pa) Pd(Pa) H(m) M(Nm) N(rpm)/60 Phyd Pmech Efficiency Speed(rpm)
0 0 0 0 -6000 1000 0.924988 0.4 5 0 12.568 0 300
55 0.000916667 0.467687 1.14013267 -8000 1000 1.184375 0.5 10 10.62919 31.42 33.82939 600
98 0.001633333 0.833333 2.03150912 -10000 2000 1.610646 0.6 15 25.75577 56.556 45.5403 900
138 0.0023 1.173469 2.86069652 -12000 2000 1.986894 0.8 20 44.74064 100.544 44.49856 1200
172 0.002866667 1.462585 3.5655058 -14000 4000 2.587463 1 25 72.6191 157.1 46.22476 1500
211 0.003516667 1.794218 4.37396352 -18000 6000 3.472412 1.4 30 119.5534 263.928 45.29775 1800
241 0.004016667 2.04932 4.99585406 -23000 10000 4.638701 1.8 35 182.4155 395.892 46.07708 2100
276 0.0046 2.346939 5.72139303 -29000 13000 5.887602 2.2 40 265.1526 552.992 47.94872 2400
311 0.005183333 2.644558 6.44693201 -36000 18000 7.487558 2.7 45 379.9696 763.506 49.76642 2700
334 0.005566667 2.840136 6.92371476 -41000 21000 8.574931 3.1 48.33333 467.3319 941.5527 49.63417 2900
Table 4. A table of the calculated values of the system characteristic curve for pump 1

Table 5. A table of the calculated values of the system characteristic curve for pump 2

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 flow(m3/s) Vin (m/s) Vout (m/s) Ps(Pa) Pd(Pa) H(m) M(Nm) N(rpm)/60 Phyd Pmech Efficiency
flowrate(L/min)
320 0.005333333 6.633499 6.633499 -41000 22000 6.554888 2.8 48.33333 342.2658 850.4347 40.24599
250 0.004166667 5.182421 5.182421 -27000 75000 10.53839 2.8 48.33333 429.8952 850.4347 50.55005
210 0.0035 4.353234 4.353234 -21000 97000 12.17265 2.7 48.33333 417.112 820.062 50.86347
170 0.002833333 3.524046 3.524046 -15000 118000 13.70476 2.5 48.33333 380.1621 759.3167 50.06634
130 0.002166667 2.694859 2.694859 -12000 132000 14.82832 2.3 48.33333 314.5455 698.5713 45.02697
90 0.0015 1.865672 1.865672 -10000 140000 15.44116 2 48.33333 226.7623 607.4533 37.32999
70 0.001166667 1.451078 1.451078 -9000 143000 15.64544 1.9 48.33333 178.704 577.0807 30.9669
50 0.000833333 1.036484 1.036484 -9000 145000 15.84973 1.7 48.33333 129.3124 516.3353 25.04426
10 0.000166667 0.207297 0.207297 -7000 146000 15.74759 1.4 48.33333 25.69581 425.2173 6.042982
Table 6. A table of the calculated values of the pump characteristic curve for pump 2

GRAPH OF PUMP CHARACTERISTIC AND SYSTEM CHARACTER-

ISTIC CURVE (PUMP 1)

5
PUMP CHARACTERISTIC CURVE
4
Head,m

SYSTEM CHARACTERISTIC CURVE

3

0
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006
volumetric flowrate(m3/s)

Figure 2. A graph of the pump and the system characteristic curve of pump 1

9
 PUMP CHARACTERISTIC AND EFFICIENCY CURVE FOR
PUMP 1
60

50
HEAD AND EFFICIENCY

40

30

20 PUMP CHARACTERISTIC
CURVE
10 EFFICIENCY

0
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006
VOLUMETRIC FLOW RATE (m3/s)

Figure 3. A graph of the pump characteristic and efficiency curve of pump 1

GRAPH OF PUMP CHARACTERISTIC AND SYSTEM

CHARACTERISTIC CURVE (PUMP 2)

5
PUMP CHARACTERISTIC CURVE
4 SYSTEM CHARACTERISTIC
Head,m

CURVE
3

0
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006

volumetric flowrate(m3/s)

Figure 4. A graph of the pump and the system characteristic curve of pump 2

10
 PUMP CHARACTERISTIC AND EFFICIENCY CURVE FOR
PUMP 2

60

50
Head and efficiency

40
PUMP CHARACTERISTIC
EFFICIENCY
30

20

10

0
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006

volumetric flow rate (m3/s)

Figure 5. A graph of the pump characteristic and efficiency curve of pump 2

Discussion
The pump’s performance under different conditions was depicted graphically through the
characteristics curves. From the experiment, it was observed that an increase in the
volumetric flow rate caused an increase in the total head for both pumps 1 and 2. This is
because the flow rate varies with the discharge pressure in centrifugal pumps. That is, the
higher the pressure, the lower the volumetric flowrate and vice-versa. An increase in pipe size
causes a decrease in pressure at the pump discharge causing an increase in inflow.
For the pump characteristic curve, the operation point depends on the volumetric flow rate
and the head of the system. The pump curve indicates the relationship between the head and
the fluid flow rate for the pump. The point at which the pump characteristic curve and the
system characteristic curve intersect is the operating point. The operating point indicates the
capacity one can expect from the pump when in operation. The operating point of the pump,
represented by the head-flow rate curve, was determined by the intersection of the system
curve and the actual pump curve, occurring at (0.0055m³/s,6.2m) for pump 1 and
(0.0057m³/s ,8.2m) for pump 2. The operating point is determined by the system’s hydraulic
conditions such as the resistance to flow (e.g. pipes, valves, fittings) and the pump’s
performance curve. Pump 2 had a higher head and volumetric flowrate than pump 1and
higher head capability generates a greater pressure and can overcome higher elevations and
this is generally desired when the fluid is to be transported over long distances, higher floors
or through pipes of significant frictional losses.
The best efficiency point (BEP) is the point along a pump performance curve where
efficiency is the highest. In any pumping system, operating at or around the BEP of the pump
is desired. At the BEP, a pump achieves the optimum balance between flow rate, head, and

11
power consumption. The BEP is a graph of head/efficiency against the flowrate. From the
graph, the BEP at (0.0041m³/s,54%) for pump 1 and (0.0035m3/s,51%). From the results, the
BEP for pump 1 was closer to the operating point than the BEP of pump 2 was hence making
the operation of point 1 better than point 2. BEP is the point at which the pump efficiency
peaks. It is therefore advisable to choose a pump that operates in proximity to its BEP. As the
speed of the impeller changed, the efficiency and BEP changed.
Also, it can be noted from the table of results, that zero head was achieved at a volumetric
flowrate of 0 L/min which signifies that the resistance in the system was higher the driving
force of the pump and therefore the suction and delivery velocities were zero. Also, when the
resistance to the flow increased, the capacity decreased and so does the head generate by the
pump.
It was noted that as the flowrate increased, the pump’s head increased while its efficiency
declined. This phenomenon can be attributed to the longer distance travelled by the delivery
tube, necessitating more energy to overcome friction from piping and fittings. Consequently,
this leads to an increased energy consumption and a reduction in efficiency. The power
required by the pump increased because of the higher rate at which the pump works and
therefore increased the efficiencies.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Through conducting an experiment within a closed system, we gained significant
understanding regarding the action experiments and effectiveness of a pump. The experiment
yielded a comprehensive pump characteristic curve, indicating the correlation between the
pump’s flowrate and head. Furthermore, by adjusting the valves, we generated a system
characteristic curve, illustrating the relationship between the flowrate and total head under
specific conditions. Various efficiencies were computed across different flowrates to evaluate
the performance at each juncture. Our operating point, identified at the intersection of the
pump and the system characteristic curves, was pinpointed at (0.0055m³/s,6.2m) pump 1 and
(0.0057m³/s ,8.2m) for pump 2. Pump 1 generated a higher head at its operating point than
pump 2 hence making it more desired than pump 1.

12
References
 Li, Y., Feng, G., Li, X., Si, Q., & Zhu, Z. (2018). An experimental study on
the cavitation vibration characteristics of a centrifugal pump at normal flow
rate †. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 32(10), 1–10.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-018-09
 Cucit, V., Burlon, F., Fenu, G., Furlanetto, R., Pellegrino, F. A., & Simonato,
M. (2018). A control system for preventing cavitation of centrifugal pumps.
Energy Procedia, 148, 242–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2018.08.074
 EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF ENHANCEMENT IN EFFICIENCY
OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP BY REDUCTION IN CAVITATION OF PUMP.
(n.d.). http://www.ijeast.com
 Williams, R. (2010). Comparing pumps. Circulation Research, 106(5).
https://doi.org/10.1161/RES.0b013e3181da7ae4

13
  Abo Elyamin, G. R. H., Bassily, M. A., Khalil, K. Y., & Gomaa, M. S. (2019).
Effect of impeller blades number on the performance of a centrifugal pump.
Alexandria Engineering Journal, 58(1).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2019.02.004
 Mohammadi, Z., Heidari, F., Fasamanesh, M., Saghafian, A., Amini, F., &
Jafari, S. M. (2022). Centrifugal pumps. In Transporting Operations of Food
Materials within Food Factories: Unit Operations and Processing Equipment
in the Food Industry. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818585-8.00001-5

Appendix
6. Differences in centrifugal, reciprocating and side-channel pump

 Centrifugal pumps have impellers at the suction and they are not used to pump gases.
They have to be primed before they can operate effectively. Centrifugal pumps can
be used to transport slurries if the right impeller is selected. The suitable impellers for
transporting slurries are the semi-closed and opened impellers.
 Reciprocating pumps provide a high pressure at the delivery. However, the
reciprocating pumps are difficult in using to pump viscous fluids due to the high
suction stroke required. The piston plunger pump is the simplest form of a positive
displacement pump. A reciprocating pump is usually designed for a specific
volumetric rate capacity and pressure capability. Once the volumetric rate capacity
and pressure capability are known, a designer can determine the plunger piston bore
and stroke the rotation speed range and the power of the prime mover needed to
complete the system. Reciprocating pumps are fabricated in both horizontal and
vertical configurations.

14
  The side channel pump has its properties between a centrifugal and a displacement
pump. It has an automatic self-priming capacity; it can transport gases. They can
transport liquid -gas mixture without interruption to the fluid flow. Hence its best for
pumping fluids with high content of gases. At the initial stage of operation, it works
as a displacement pump due to its self-priming mechanism. Once the side channel is
filled, it starts operating as a centrifugal pump.

7. Effects of 25% increase in impeller speed on flow, head and power.

There are important calculations that are needed to properly evaluate and select the
appropriate centrifugal pump. There are several similar relationships for centrifugal pumps
that can be used if the effects of viscosity of the pumped fluid can be neglected. These relate
the operating performance of any centrifugal pump for one set of operating conditions to
those of another set of operating conditions, say conditions 1, and conditions 2.

Pumps

The pressure head H, (ft) is related to the head H, (ft) and impeller speeds N, and N, by

The pump input power PI (Lp) is related to the pump input power P, (hp) and impeller speed
N, and N, by

V 1 N1 N 2 ×V
= ⟹ V 2= 1

V 2 N2 N1

let us consider the inlet diameter of the pump to be 50mm and outlet to be 32mm.

250 L/min is equal to 4.1667x10−8 m3/s

−3
4.1667 x 10
Inlet velocity, Vin = −3 =2.122 m/s
1.9635 x 10

volumetric flow rate

Outlet velocity, Vout =
area of theinlet pipe

Area = π ¿ ¿, where D is the diameter at the outlet pipe

Diameter at the outlet = 32mm = 0.032m

π (0.032)
Area of outlet tube = = 8.0425x 10−4 m2
4

15
 volumetric flow rate
Vout =
area of outlet tube

−3
4.1667 x 10
Vout = −4 = 5.18 m/s
8.0425 x 10

312.5× 2.12
⟹ =2.65 where the volumetric flow rate V 2is related to V 1, and the
250
impeller speeds N 1 (rpm) and N 2 (rpm). With an increase of 25% in the rotation speed, we
312.5× 2.12
have ⟹ =2.65 . this indicates an increase in the velocity by 25%.
250

The Head is also related to the impeller speed by

( )
0.5
H1 N1
= where H 1 is the pressure head and H 2 is the head loss?
H2 N2

(0.72−0.29)
=0.481
An increase in 25% will yield
3625 (
2900 0.5
) . Comparing this with the head loss and

2992rpm which was 0.82, an increase in the number rotations reduces the pressure loss
drastically. Though the calculated value was made at 2900rpm.

The pump input power P is related to the pump input power P, (hp) and impeller speed N, and
N, by

( )
3
P1 N1
= Considering the mechanical power supplied to the fluid with N 1 = 250 and a
P2 N2

calculated N 2=312.5 this yield

850
⟹ =1660
( )
3
250
312.5

This is showing a 95% increase in the mechanical power delivered to the pumped fluid by
the impellers of the pump.

The relations used into the above calculations are known as affinity laws which are only valid
for centrifugal pumps. They are mostly applied to increase or reduce the operating speed or
the impeller diameter. They are also sometimes used to fix the pumps operating point by

16
shifting the pump characteristic curve so that it intersects the system curve at the desired flow
rate and head.

The pump input power P is related to the pump input power P, (hp) and impeller speed N, and
N, by

( )
3
P1 N1
= Considering the mechanical power supplied to the fluid with N 1 = 250 and a
P2 N2

calculated N 2=312.5 this yield

850
⟹ =1660
( )
3
250 This is showing a 95% increase in the mechanical power delivered
312.5
to the pumped fluid by the impellers of the pump.

The relations used into the above calculations are known as affinity laws which are only valid
for centrifugal pumps. They are mostly applied to increase or reduce the operating speed or
the impeller diameter. They are also sometimes used to fix the pumps operating point by
shifting the pump characteristic curve so that it intersects the system curve at the desired flow
rate and head.

DECLARATION
I declare that:
 This report is my unaided work and is a true reflection of the lab I participated in.
 Large portions of it have not been submitted by another student for assessment.
 Significant portions of it were not copied from an internet source or a book.
 Significant portions of it were not written using ChatGPT or any other AI tool.
 If any of the above statements turn out to be false, I forfeit the marks awarded to this
report.

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